Kensington Dragons Reserves 3 v 3 Sporting Hackney
With the top two sides in the division winning it was really 3 points or nothing if the Dragons wanted to keep their outside chances alive of getting back into the title race.
With a weakened squad they would need to produce their best and the early signs were they would rise to the challenge. A frantic first half began in style with winger Jack Lyons racing through in behind and lobbing the prone Hackney keeper. It was 2-0 shortly after with a wicked free kick delivery from midfielder Adam Finch finding veteran striker Jon Laycock running in to curl a header into the far corner. They needed to be wise at this point and keep things tight but instead a sloppy pass in midfield lead to the big striker producing another error from center back Stephen Awojola and poked a cross to his partner to finish well. The half continued in the same attacking style, Lyons now turning provider putting in Laycock who’s shot was saved by the keeper, however the ball bounced his way again and this time slotted into the left corner. Again they couldn’t keep the two goal advantage and immediately conceded with Awojola getting beaten on the byline for a similar away goal. HT 3-2
The second half was equally as frantic but without the goals. The Dragons dominated but looked a little shaky on the break however Kieran Cox and a re-inspired Awojola were mopping things up nicely now. Going forward, Billy Maxwell was in the thick of the action but twice couldnt quite get in behind after flick ons. Two goal mouth scrambles also ended without the score changing and then the sucker punch came from a loose pass from defence being mis-controlled and the two strikers combined again to get in behind and finish well. The Dragons knew they needed the three points and threw everything at a tired Hackney team. Lyons found Laycock out wide and the return pass to Lyons running into the box should have produced the winner but the defence blocked his goal bound shot. Sub Justas Krisciunas also went through one on one but the keeper saved brilliantly twice. The final chance fell to Laycock after a sublime pass from Ade Akerdolu, the striker controlled it well to get in behind but his curled finish grazed the wrong side of the post and finally a crucial two points had been dropped. FT 3-3